Dear Colleagues,

On Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, UK will hold its spring commencement ceremonies to celebrate our students who are graduating.

Commencement is one of the events that I most look forward to each year, since it highlights so many ways that our university has a positive impact on all our lives. For our students, it is a milestone. It is both an ending — of this academic journey — and a beginning. Commencement is the first step of many toward their dreams. 

For you, our faculty, commencement can evoke similar feelings. A vital component of your work involves your students, and watching them cross the stage and receive their diplomas marks a significant moment of pride and joy. 

Our strategic plan emphasizes putting students first — and that is exactly what you have done. You have helped guide your students to this moment, where all their hard work, dedication and belief culminate in this momentous achievement. 

You volunteered your time to make sure your students understand the foundational concepts of your class so they could succeed in their future classes.

You invited students into your research labs and taught them the importance of inquisitiveness in the journey to discovery.

You have helped your students grow into passionate and creative individuals with bright futures ahead of them. 

I encourage and invite you to join us at UK Commencement this May to celebrate with our students — after all, their journeys have been your journeys as well. 

You can find more information as well as a schedule and link to RSVP on the Commencement website. 

Thank you for continuing to uplift our students and create brighter futures for all of us at UK and in Kentucky.

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D. 
Provost

Dear Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to announce that Christine Harper has accepted the offer to serve as associate provost for academic operations after a national search. 

Christine has served as the acting associate provost for academic operations since the role was created last summer.  

Since joining the University of Kentucky in 2010, Christine has worked in many areas of the university including the College of Dentistry, the Office for Student Success and the Office of the Provost. 

Before being named acting associate provost for academic operations, she served as associate vice president of enrollment and chief enrollment officer for UK, where she led efforts to foster the university’s success in growing our first-year undergraduate cohorts and expanding access for transfer students to join UK through mapped Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) pathways. In addition, she served on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) compliance review committee through UK’s last accreditation. 

As a reminder, moving forward, any questions you may have about admissions, scholarships and financial aid should be directed to the Office for Student Success, led by Vice President for Student Success Kirsten Turner.  

During the past several months in her acting role, Christine has been able to translate the vast experience she had working closely with college faculty and staff to support their individual enrollment goals to this acting position. Her leadership has facilitated a much more focused collaboration on academic operational efforts between the Office of the Provost and UK’s colleges and programs.

I am happy Christine will build upon this momentum, and I am confident that she will use her experience — both in the acting role and during her time at UK — to ensure we are meeting the academic administration and student success missions of the university.

Please join me in congratulating Christine. 

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D. 
Provost

Dear Colleagues,

The Southeastern Conference Academic Consortium Leadership Development Program (SECAC ALDP) was established to help identify and prepare future higher education leaders. It emphasizes the growth of its fellows through engaging in workshops and events at their home institutions as well as SEC partner institutions. 

The program consists of three components:

1. A university-level development program designed by each institution. The Office for Faculty Advancement leads UK’s activities, which involve multiple small-group meetings with various campus leaders, depending on the preferences of each cohort’s members.
2. Two SEC-wide workshops held on specified campuses for all program participants.
3. A competitive fellowship to provide administrative growth opportunities for former participants.

Through participation in the SEC ALDP, the selected fellows develop the skills and gain the knowledge necessary to anticipate and respond to the future challenges facing higher education, particularly at flagship institutions. 

They also create and deepen relationships between UK and its partner SEC institutions — the collaborations between our institutions help foster greater growth for both UK and Kentucky. Building these partnerships, whether in research or academic settings, help to expand the fellows’ perspectives on how UK can approach challenges and changes in the future.

The current four fellows for UK are:

• Heather Erwin, Ph.D., department chair, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, College of Education
• Jesse Hoagg, Ph.D., department chair, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering
• Rebecca McCulley, Ph.D., department chair, Plant and Soil Sciences, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
• Clayton Thyne, Ph.D., associate dean of academic affairs, Political Science, College of Arts and Sciences

The application process and more details can be found here. 

Thank you for continuing to inspire innovation for the entire university community.

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D. 
Provost

Dear Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to announce that Dr. Nick Pace has accepted the offer to serve as dean of the UK College of Education, effective July 1, 2025, pending approval of the Board of Trustees.

Dr. Pace is currently serving as the interim dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a role in which he has served since 2023.

As interim dean at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Dr. Pace has helped grow a collaborative environment and enhance community in his college. From his initial listening tour of the college’s departments, centers and programs, he used the feedback shared to develop a dashboard showing progress toward meeting the various needs and priorities expressed by the college community. Highlighting staff, faculty and student success to external audiences and prospective students helped the college with its first enrollment growth in eight years.

In addition, he added new roles to support faculty professional development and growth, including an interim associate dean to support faculty affairs and new leads to support faculty success and teaching as well as research excellence.

I am confident that the UK College of Education will continue to grow under his leadership, with exciting programs and innovative research supported by a talented community. Dr. Pace will bring his experience working in various levels of education to help engage with our College of Education faculty, staff and students involved in more than $20 million in active research, which directly impacts the lives of Kentuckians and others around the world.

I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to Dr. Danelle Stevens-Watkins for serving as acting dean, a role she has held since January 2023. Under her leadership, the College of Education has launched new programs and continued growing as an innovator in learning and the practical application of research. Please join me in thanking Dr. Stevens-Watkins for her dedication to the College of Education as she returns to her position in the Department of Educational, School and Counseling Psychology.

I know you also join me in congratulating Dr. Pace as he joins the Wildcat family. Thank you for continuing to advance UK in all that you do.

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D.
Provost

Dear Colleagues, 

Dr. Lisa Tannock, associate provost for faculty advancement, has informed me that she will begin a new phase in her esteemed career as dean of Queen’s University Faculty of Health Sciences in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. During her time serving as associate provost, Dr. Tannock has been instrumental in advancing the mission of the University of Kentucky by working diligently to meet the needs of our faculty, faculty administrators and others within the university community. I hope you will join me in thanking her for her exemplary service and leadership. 

The search process will begin soon with the goal of the next associate provost for faculty advancement joining us in June. The Office of the Provost seeks candidate nominations for colleagues you believe are well-suited for this important role. Self-nominations are acceptable, and all recommendations are confidential.

Those interested in the position may apply via the UK Jobs posting until 11:59 p.m. on April 7, 2025. All applications submitted will receive full consideration by the search advisory committee.

If you have any questions about the process or want to submit a nomination, please contact Shavonna Ross, director of operations (shav.ross@uky.edu).

Thank you in advance for your valuable input. We appreciate all that you do to advance Kentucky.

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D.
Provost

Dear Colleagues,

One of the greatest privileges of my role is to highlight the work and accomplishments of UK’s faculty. On Tuesday, I was honored to introduce this year’s Great Teachers at the annual awards dinner prior to their recognition on court at Rupp Arena. 

I am deeply proud to work alongside a faculty body whose membership is composed of prolific researchers, committed teachers and empathetic health care professionals. The Great Teacher Awards dinner allowed us to recognize the exceptional individuals who are dedicated to preparing our students to excel in their future lives and careers.

This year’s Great Teachers are Dr. Sahar Alameh and Dr. Channon Horn (College of Education); Dr. Gosia Chwatko, Dr. Isabel Escobar and Douglas Klein (Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering); and Dr. Matthew Kim (College of Arts and Sciences).

The SEC Faculty Achievement Award is another way UK honors and recognizes a faculty member who represents dedication to academic excellence and scholarship in pursuit of the university’s mission to advance Kentucky. Each year, one faculty member is selected from each SEC school, and of that group, one faculty member is announced as the SEC Professor of the Year.

This year, we recognize Dr. Rick Honaker, professor in the Department of Mining Engineering, as UK’s SEC Faculty Achievement Award recipient. Dr. Honaker is a pioneer and leader in his field, having published groundbreaking research on critical mineral extraction from coal and coal byproducts. 

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Honaker and our Great Teachers on these momentous achievements. They truly embody our mission of advancing Kentucky in everything we do — their revolutionary scholarship and commitment to our students are helping UK prepare students for lives of meaning and purpose outside the university. 

As I mentioned at the Great Teacher Awards dinner, our students are our future. And you, as all great faculty do, are helping them rise. 

Thank you for your commitment to our mission to building a more prosperous Commonwealth for all. 

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D. 
Provost

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to inform you that we are initiating the search for a permanent associate provost for academic operations.   

In June 2024, I announced the creation of this new role within the Office of the Provost, which was initially filled on an acting basis. We are now moving forward with the process to fill this role permanently.    

As you may recall, this role was established to enhance our academic operational efforts across our colleges. Key responsibilities of this role include: 

• Develop and implement institutional efficiencies in academic operations and related areas of administration;  
• Direct the flow of information regarding academic operations to and from the provost to colleges, university units and state agencies regarding academic operations, administration initiatives and policies; and 
• Collaborate closely with the provost, provost executive management team, deans, associate/assistant provosts, associate deans, vice presidents and associate vice presidents with the design and implementation of new programs and policy changes to help meet the academic administration and student success missions of the university. 

The search process will begin soon with the goal of the associate provost joining us by May 1, 2025. 

Prospective candidates for this role should have a terminal degree in their field of study and have senior administrative experience leading an academic unit for more than 10 years; or a master’s degree with more than 15 years of administrative experience. Please note that this is a staff position. However, both faculty and staff may apply.  

You may nominate candidates by sending an email to shav.ross@uky.edu until 5 p.m. on March 8. All nominations will be confidential. All nominated individuals will be contacted with instructions regarding the application process.  
  
Interested candidates, regardless of whether they receive a nomination as described above, may submit applications via the UK Jobs posting beginning March 3 until 11:59 p.m. on March 10. All applications submitted will receive full consideration by the search advisory committee.  

If you have any questions about the process, please contact Shavonna Ross, director of operations (shav.ross@uky.edu). 

Thank you in advance for your valuable input. We appreciate all that you do to advance Kentucky. 

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D. 
Provost

Dear Colleagues,

Kentucky’s Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) recently held its 2025 Student Success Summit at UK. Its focus on leadership and collaboration reinforced for me the depth of expertise and talent that UK’s faculty represent. 

As we move toward midterms, I encourage you to continue building your skills and developing your passions. Our work as a university and institution of higher learning depends on our faculty, and one of our most important roles is to support you in that work.

The Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) provides numerous opportunities for instructors, colleagues and leaders, such as workshops and support for grants and research endeavors. Your experiences as members of a world-class faculty are invaluable, and CELT will help you leverage those to further expand your skillset. 

Similarly, the Office for Faculty Advancement (OFA) exists to support faculty at UK as you evolve through different stages of your careers. I encourage you to use their resources, such as their various academies and development programs, to discover or deepen your passion for leadership. Your growth as professionals is paramount to UK’s mission to advance Kentucky in new and innovative ways. 

As always, it is also vital to consider your personal well-being as individuals as well as your professional growth. UK HR Work-life and Well-being provides personalized support for your overall well-being. Taking care of ourselves is important in ensuring we can approach our work with purpose and intention every day. 

I encourage each of you to utilize these resources — and ensure that your students utilize their resources, too. The Office for Student Success offers numerous academic and well-being services to support our students throughout their time at UK. 

This spring semester, continue finding ways to uplift yourselves and one another — I remain deeply grateful for the expertise and ingenuity you bring to UK. Thank you for continuing to advance UK and our Commonwealth. 

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D. 
Provost

Dear Colleagues,

When the Institutional Multidisciplinary Paradigm to Accelerate Collaboration and Transformation (IMPACT) Awards initiative launched two years ago, our goal was to drive innovation and collaboration within and between colleges. The groundbreaking work performed by faculty and staff each day at UK has the power to transform lives, and the IMPACT Awards initiative celebrates that. 

Now, two years after its launch, the IMPACT Awards initiative has helped generate numerous opportunities for partnerships across campus and beyond.

This spring semester, we will again highlight the invaluable and inspiring teaching, research and service conducted by the second cohort of IMPACT Awards projects on UKNow. I encourage you to read their stories and learn how they are impacting our university and our communities.

Your creativity and innovation are why the University of Kentucky is able to continue serving our Commonwealth. By sharing stories of our work with each other, we can continue inspiring not only those we serve, but our colleagues as well. 

I am profoundly grateful for your help in growing our impact as a university — thank you for continually reimagining how UK can advance Kentucky.

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D. 
Provost

Dear Colleagues,

It continues to be an exciting time to be a member of the University of Kentucky community — over the last year, we made significant strides in our efforts to advance our Commonwealth, and our momentum has not slowed.

Most especially, you — our faculty and instructors — have played an integral role in UK’s work of improving the lives of all our community members.

You helped us grow enrollment to record levels and graduate more students than ever before — in the fall semester, we enrolled nearly 36,000 students and conferred nearly 2,000 degrees for our December commencement. In 2024, we also welcomed new degrees and programs, such as the Bachelor of Science in Statistics and Data Science and the undergraduate certificate in Arts Emergency Management.

You also served our communities through excellence in research — from using innovative gaming to address opioid misuse among teenagers with the support of a $1.9 million grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to helping improve health outcomes by addressing food insecurity through the Food as Health Alliance.

You helped heal our community members and earned UK Chandler Hospital recognition as the No. 1 hospital in the state by U.S. News & World Report for the ninth year in a row, as well as a top oncology ranking from Becker’s Hospital Review for Markey Cancer Center. Your groundbreaking work for our patients helps pave the way for even greater breakthroughs in healing and care. 

In the last year, we have grown and accomplished even more. You represent a world-class faculty body driving discoveries to improve the lives of countless individuals and communities around the world.

The momentum of your successes in 2024 carries us into the new spring semester, and I know you will continue inspiring your colleagues, students and communities to do even more in 2025.

Thank you for inspiring us all to do more and be more for Kentucky.

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D. 
Provost